Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC seeks an experienced editor to protect the clarity, accuracy, consistency, and credibility of written communications supporting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The editor reviews hospital articles, reports, web content, and leadership messaging so that patients, families, staff, military leaders, and public audiences receive reliable information that reflects the command’s mission and approved voice.

The successful candidate combines expert English grammar and Associated Press (AP) Style with experience in healthcare communications, military public affairs, or another regulated, high-visibility environment. This professional understands how to verify medical statements, protect sensitive information, coordinate multiple reviewers, and deliver publication-ready materials under firm deadlines.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The editor manages the end-to-end editorial lifecycle, from receiving drafts and identifying review requirements through substantive editing, copyediting, fact-checking, proofreading, stakeholder coordination, and final clearance. Working with authors, clinical and administrative subject matter experts, legal counsel, and public affairs leadership, the editor resolves conflicting feedback and prepares complete products for approval by the senior Public Affairs Officer (PAO) before public release.

The ideal candidate is a careful, organized, self-directed planner who anticipates missing facts, ambiguous wording, inconsistent messaging, and approval bottlenecks. The editor exercises sound judgment, responds constructively to revisions, maintains professional relationships, and manages competing priorities with minimal day-to-day guidance while following established Government review and release procedures. Final release authority remains with the authorized Government official.

Core processes include an editorial calendar, review and suspense tracking, source verification, version control, a maintained organizational style guide, and a documented clearance workflow. Expected working tools include Government-approved word-processing and document-review software, shared document repositories, spreadsheets or approved workflow trackers, and authorized research resources. Familiarity with Microsoft Word Track Changes and Comments, Excel, and SharePoint is recommended; the PWS does not mandate these specific applications for the editor. The Government provides office workspace, computers, telephones, and related office equipment.

Day-to-Day and Recurring Activities

Manage the editorial lifecycle for articles, reports, website copy, leadership messages, and other public-facing written products.

Develop and maintain an editorial calendar that identifies deliverables, authors, reviewers, milestones, approval dependencies, and publication deadlines.

Review drafts for organization, readability, tone, completeness, and alignment with command communication objectives and intended audiences.

Edit and proofread content for grammar, punctuation, spelling, clarity, AP Style, command style guides, and applicable Government guidance.

Verify names, titles, dates, quotations, statistics, citations, and factual claims against reliable sources and retain traceable source information.

Validate medical and scientific statements with authorized clinical or research subject matter experts and resolve unsupported or conflicting information before clearance.

Identify potentially sensitive information, including protected health information, and route privacy or release concerns through the established review process.

Coordinate reviews with authors, subject matter experts, legal counsel, and public affairs leadership; consolidate comments and resolve competing edits.

Track document versions, review status, overdue actions, and suspense dates; elevate unresolved issues early enough to protect deadlines.

Develop, maintain, and apply the organizational style guide to promote a consistent command voice across written platforms.

Prepare final clearance packages and submit completed materials to the senior PAO for approval before public release.

Collaborate with writers, graphic designers, and other communications staff to ensure approved text remains accurate and consistent through layout and final production.

Provide editorial status updates and supporting documentation for Ascension’s quality control and contract reporting processes, as assigned.

Complete required onboarding and recurring training, safeguard Government resources, and support occasional contingency communications requirements.